Since 2018, Synagoge Groningen has been working closely with the Ehemalige Jüdische Schule in East Frisian Leer. The collaborative project has resulted in the bilingual, traveling exhibition 'Jewish life in the border area'. The exhibition was opened on Sunday 18 July in Leer.
Emancipation and personal stories
An important theme in the exhibition is the history of emancipation. While Jews in the Netherlands obtained civil rights in 1796, this was not always self-evident in 19th-century Germany. The lack of prospects for the future - both socially and economically - was often a reason for migration. In the exhibition various personal stories are shared and illustrated with words and images. Several short films are shown. For example, memories of the Polak pudding factory are shared and we see how Peter Hein returns to Weener almost 75 years after the war to commemorate his grandparents. The exhibition can be seen in Leer until August 22. The exhibition then travels to Bunde, Weener, Winschoten, Bourtange and in December 2021 to Synagoge Groningen.
Collaraborative project
The Jewish life in the border area project is a project of the Ehemalige Jüdische Schule in Leer and the Folkingestraat Synagogue Foundation in Groningen, made possible within the Interreg V-A program Deutschland-Nederland, with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The province of Groningen and the Niedersächsische Ministerium für Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten und Regionale Entwicklung.
Visiting information:
Ehemalige Jüdische Schule | Ubbo Emmiusstrasse 12 | Leer (Ostfriesland, Dld)
